DENVER -- The fifth-graders of Don Diehl Nutrition and Gardening class at Fairview Elementary are learning the important role a rainbow plays in their diet with help of Denver Urban Gardens.

Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) works with Denver Public Schools to offer the integrated nutrition and gardening curriculum inside and outside of the classroom.

“This is a year-long program in the class doing gardening, nutrition and cooking lessons,” Don Diehl, fight-grade teacher at Fairview Elementary, said.

“They learn about photochemical and how they help our bodies, nutrition and the fractional parts of different ingredients,” Diehl said.

The presence of DUG sets this classroom apart from the others.

DUG works with Denver Public Schools to offer the integrated nutrition and gardening curriculum inside and outside of the classroom.

Maureen Hearty, DUG Education Facilitator, along with Diehl, transform the smooth tabletop surfaces and handy drawers of the students’ classroom desks into a make-shit garden and cooking table.

“So today we are eating spring vegetables in lettuce wraps,” Maureen explained as student took out their tall-white chef hat.

“Does anyone remember what spring seeds we planted in the garden?” asked Maureen.

Several hands go up and answer “radish, peas, lettuce.”

These are the vegetables with colors related to the rainbow. A rainbow Diehl hopes will lead them to a healthy active life.

“They are teaching the kids that it is important to eat a rainbow,” Diehl said. “They are looking for reds, orange, yellow, blue, purple and green. Vibrant healthy vegetables.”

A simple lettuce wrap with gardening nutrition elements and a recipes educating them about photochemical. A chemical found in colorful fruits and vegetables.

The DUG at Fairmount Elementary is funded LiveWell Colorado, a non-profit community committed to providing every Coloradoan with access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity in the places they live, work, learn and play